SAN FRANCISCOThe ALTITUDE study, presented as a late-breaking clinical trial at this years annual Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) meeting, evaluated the survival rates of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) recipients after shock therapy.

The public reporting of healthcare data, particularly in the cardiovascular field, has been in the spotlight as the National Cardiovascular Data Registries (NCDR) among others, aim to improve quality of care. And during a presentation May 4 at the annual Heart Rhythm Society meeting, Stephen C. Hammill, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said that these types of registries will have many benefits.

SAN FRANCISCO--Will we ever be free of INR checks is the question Marianne T. Cosentino, APN, MS, of the Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn., attempted to answer during a May 4 presentation at the 32nd annual scientific session of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). Her answer? Not yet.

New for Heart Rhythm 2011, the Networked EP Lab will prepare electrophysiologists for the future of health information technology (HIT). Visitors will discover new processes and technologies to integrate into the EP Lab to optimize patient safety, outcomes and improve procedural management and outcomes.

U.S. healthcare expenditures for the most common cardiac arrhythmia--atrial fibrillation (AF)reach $26 billion per year, according to a study published in the May 3 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

A number of patients experience complications after implantable cardioverter-defibrillation (ICD) replacement and more often than not these complications can be debilitating and linked to an increased risk of mortality, according to the results from the Ontario ICD database published in the April issue of Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.

While complication rates associated with implantable cardiac devices have decreased, they remain problematic for patients and cardiologists. Better patient selection, physician training and improved device software and/or programming can help improve implantation and reduce complications, including inappropriate shock therapy.

Advanced electrophysiology (EP) technology is a key component in improving patient care and physician productivity. Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington, Texas, has implemented the Sensei X Robotic Catheter System in advancing a Center of Excellence. Sponsored by an educational grant from Hansen Medical.